Iran Ratifies Caspian Sea Convention
Iran approved a bill to ratify the 2018 Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea in July 2026. The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest inland body of water and is bordered by five littoral states: Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan.
Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea
The 2018 convention was signed in Aktau, Kazakhstan, by the five Caspian littoral states. It provides a legal framework for the use of the Caspian Sea and covers navigation, fishing, environmental protection, and security-related provisions.
The convention bars the presence of military forces from non-littoral states in the Caspian Sea. It also leaves seabed delimitation and baseline issues to separate bilateral negotiations among the coastal states.
Ratification Process in Iran
Iran’s cabinet under President Masoud Pezeshkian approved the ratification bill on 22 July 2026. The bill was later submitted to the parliament with single-priority status for committee scrutiny and a final vote.
Iran remained the only Caspian littoral state that had not fully ratified the 2018 Aktau agreement as of mid-August 2026. The other four littoral states are Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan.
Tehran Convention and Regional Framework
The Tehran Convention is the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, signed in 2003. It is the main regional treaty on environmental cooperation in the Caspian basin.
Iran announced that it will host the 7th Conference of the Parties to the Tehran Convention on 23 September 2026. The Caspian Sea has strategic value for shipping, fisheries, offshore resources, and marine ecology.
Important Facts for Exams
- The Caspian Sea is a landlocked saltwater body shared by five countries.
- The 2018 Caspian Sea convention was signed in Aktau, Kazakhstan.
- The convention excludes non-littoral military forces from the Caspian Sea.
- The Tehran Convention was signed in 2003 for marine environmental protection in the Caspian region.
Iran’s ratification process concerns the 2018 Aktau agreement and the 2003 Tehran Convention framework. The Caspian Sea has no direct connection to the world’s oceans.
